Mechanism for peeling the stem indents of fruit



(Aug. 25,1953 R. L, EWALD E TAL- 2,649,879

MECHANISM FOR FEELING THE STEM INDENTS OF FRUIT Original Filed Oct. 51, 1940 v a Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTORS. @rzzwzdliw Y 270 0 a. qfi/igg pwmajw Aug. 25, 1953 R. EWALD EIAL 9, 7

MECHANISM FOR FEELING THE STEM INDENTS 0F FRUIT Original Filed Oct. 31, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 INVENTORs.

imsyflufikfy M m w w Aug. 25, 1953 R. L. EWALD EFAL' MECHANISM FOR FEELING THE STEM INDEN'I'S OF FRUIT Original Fiied Oct. 51, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N EN TORS WJJM y i g 0$M /4% N is Aug; 25, 1953 R. 4.. IEWALD ETAL MECHANISM FOR FEELING THE STEM INDENTS 0? FRUIT 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed 001.. 31, 1940 7720M wjyg INVENTORS g- 25, 1953' R. L. EWALD ET AL 2,649,879

MECHANISM FOR FEELING THE STEM INDENTS OF FRUIT Original Filed Oct. 31, 1940 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,1953 R. L. EWALD ETAL 2,649,879

MECHANISM FOR FEELING THE STEM INDENTS 0F FRUIT Original Filed Oct. 31, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 A 52? K @3211 Z95 "-294 1% 5530 E80 2 J51 INVENTORS.

iatented Aug. 1953 MECHANISM FOR PEELING THE STEM INDENTS OF FRUIT Raymond L. Ewald and Henry A. Skog, Olympia,

Wash., 'assignors to Special Equipment Company, Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Continuation of application Serial No. 472,322, January 14, 1943, which is a division of application Serial No. 363,596, October 31, 1940. This application December 7, 1948, Serial No.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for processing fruit, and particularly whole peaches.

The present application is a continuation of our application Serial No. 472,322, filed January 14, 1943, and now abandoned, which latter application is in turn a division of our application Serial No. 363,596, filed October 31, 1940, and issued as Patent No. 2,398,780 of April 23, 1946.

The claims of the present application relate to the means for cutting or processing the peach in reference to the stem cavity and the suture plane thereof, and also to means for effecting the orientation of the peach in reference to its stem indent and suture plane, and also to processing means operatively or resultingly controlled therethereby.

The claims also relate to means controlled by the formation of the stem cavity for in turn controlling a cutting action on the peach, and particularly the peeling of the stem cavity.

Among the objects of the present invention are to effect the processing of fruit, and particularly peaches, automatically and in predeterminedreference in respect to the peach stem indent and suture plane; to effect the orientation of the peach in reference to the stem indent and suture plane thereof to control a processing operation or as an incident to such other function of indication or control as may be desired; and to effect the rejection or inhibition of a processing operation or other machine function in connection with and resulting from a peach stem indent and suture plane orientation.

Further and more specifically stated objects of the invention, in reference to the particular stem indent peeling operationherein disclosed, are to provide means for removing the peeling at the stem cavity of the peach; to provide means cooperative with the stem cavity peeling means which provides a gauge operable during the cutting operation to remove exactly the correct amount of peel from the stem cavity and no more; to provide automatic means operable without the intervention of human hands or other human agency completely to remove the peeling from the elongated stem cavity of the whole peach, or in fact any other type of fruit having the stem cavity of a shape adaptable to the present mechanism; to provide means for removing the peeling at the stem cavity of a peach or similar fruit which prevents the cutting means from needlessly sawing or cutting the fruit at the stem cavity; to provide cutting means adapted to roll in the central portion of the elongated peach cavity whereby the cutters as they rotate will completely and precisely cut and sever the peel from the stem cavity; to provide cutting means mounted to be positioned to rotate and to partake of a swinging movement resiliently inwardly toward the stem cavity of the peach; and to provide means for giving the peel cutter for the stem cavity a combination of movements, and likewise to gauge these movements with respect to the shape of the stem cavity whereby to allow the cutters to do the peeling regardless of the length or :depth of the stem cavity and in conformation with'the shape of the stem cavity.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an orienting member in the form of a rotatable wheel adapted ,to roll relatively to the peripheral surface of the peach and yieldingly into the stem indent'thereof when in alignment therewith, and substantially sufficiently into said stem indent only when aligned With the indent suture plane and the suture plane of the peach; said Wheel having a peripheral surface of a curvature substantially conforming to the longitudinal curvature of the peach stem indent, and being relatively thin transversely to enter the stem indent longitudinally of the suture plane to a substantially maximum extent; said orienting member preferably forming a part of control means for the processing mechanism of the machine, for effecting the proper operation thereof in respect to the peach stem indent and suture plane.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken-in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view of the machine as seen from the infeeding and pitting stations.

Figure 2 is a plan section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2. V

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 7, but showing the feeding mechanism in a subsequent position.

Figure 9 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Figure 8. I

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the whole fruit cup.

3 Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line IIII of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken through the line I2I2 of Figure 6.

Figure 13 is a section taken on the line I3-I3 of Figure 6.

Figure 14 shows perspective views of the peach holding members.

Figures 15 and 16 are front views of the same fruit holding jaws.

Figure 17 is a section taken on the line I'II7 of Figure 2.

Figure 18 is a section taken on the line I8-I8 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a changed position of the parts shown in Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a changed position of the parts shown in Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a section taken on the line 2I--2I of Figure 6.

Figure 22 shows detailed perspective views of the cavity stem peeling cutters and guides.

The invention of the present construction preferably takes the form of an upright, substantially square main frame comprising four corner posts or angle irons 2, 4, 6, and 3 (see Figures 1, 3, and 4), suitably braced at top and bottom by cross-braces II! and I2. In addition, other hereinafter described cross bars serve as rigid supports for these upright members. In a general way, extending laterally from this rectangular frame projects a supplementary frame adapted to be bolted or otherwise attached thereto, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, which suplementary frame is utilized to support the mechanism which initially receives the fruit, the mechanism which orients the fruit and severs the peeling at the stem cavity of the fruit, which severs the fruit in halves and which transports the severed halves to the pitting, peeling, fruitdischarging and peel-scavenging mechanism.

The main upright frame hereinbefore described is provided on a relatively low level thereof with horizontally disposed shafts I4 and IS, the latter being power driven through a clutch mechanism (see Figure 3) by means of a belt I8, adapted, in turn, to be driven from any suitable motor 20. The clutch mechanism is of any desirable construction capable of connecting and disconnecting the power source to the main operating shaft of the machine.

The shaft I6 carries a gear 21, driving another gear 22 on the horizontal shaft I4. This shaft I4 carries two main cams 24 and 26 fixed on opposite ends thereof. Each of these cams are doublefaced so as to provide cam operating means on each side thereof. Cam face 24a comprises a cam track in which operates a hereinafter described roller on a vertically reciprocable slide for raising and lowering the main tool carrying slide hereinafter described. An opposed cam face forms a roller race, in which a roller ona horizontally reciprocable slide 28 shifts in a horizontal motion transversely to the shaft I4. This slide carries on its outer end a bearing pivot 33 linked to a bearing pivot 32 on an arm 34 fixed on a vertical shaft 36. This shaft has fixed bearings in the housing frame 2 of the main upright frame of the machine. Vertical shaft 36 is oscillated by the slide 28 for operating the peeling mechanism.

The cam 23 of the shaft I4 has a cam face 26a forming a cam race, which operates a roller, connected to and operating a horizontally reciprocable slide 38, as shown in Figure 3. This slide 38 is also provided on its outer end with bearing 40 having a vertical pin 42, to the lower end of which is pivoted a link 44. This link 44 carries at its outer end an arm 46, the outer bearing 48 of which is pinned to a Vertical oscillatable shaft 50, which is mounted in the corner post 6 of the frame opposite the vertical shaft 35. This shaft 50 has aifixed to its upper end an arm hereinafter referred to, which, in turn, pivotally connects at its outer end to a relatively long rod running diagonally across to a universal connection which is, in turn, connected to a mechanism that operates a sector gear reciprocable about a horizontal axis for operating the mechanism which actuates the pitting knives.

Cam race 23b operates a vertically reciprocable slide 52 (see Figures 2 and 3), the upper end of which is provided with a rod 54 having a rack toothv portion 56 operating a pinion 58 on a horizontal shaft 66. This shaft 63 has on one end a bevel gear 62 which, in turn, operates bevel gear 64 on shaft 66 having bearings on the outside of the vertical frame member and on the same level as the main fruit cup turret hereinafter described, Which turret is above that lower level of the machine at which the shafts I4 and I6 are located. The shaft 33 operates the mechanism for positioning the auxiliary fruit holding means, specifically the pad over the fruit cup, for holding the half fruit from tilting during peeling and also for oscillating the fruit discharging means, ejecting the processed half fruit from the machine.

A second level of the main rectangular frame of the machine bounded by the uprights 2 to 8, inclusive, provides the location for the Geneva gears for driving the main or half fruit-holding turret, and also the whole fruit turret, including the driving means therebetween, whereby the main or half fruit holder turret is driven at twice the speed as the whole fruit turret. To effect this function, the shaft I4 carries between its ends a bevel gear III] (see Figure 3) meshing with a bevel gear IE2 on a vertical shaft II4 mounted in the bearing H6 carried by a cross frame H3. This cross frame is supported at one end by suitable vertical brace connected to a cross bar I20 (see Figure 5), in turn carried by the vertical upright frame members 4 and 8. The opposite end I22 of cross frame H8 is bolted to an end support by a projection I24 from a horizontal cross bar I26 carried by the opposite vertical uprights 2 and 5 of the main frame at about the level of the cross frame H8. This cross bar I25 is preferably an integral part of the substantial triangularly shaped supplementary frame carrying the whole fruit turret.

Shaft H4 carries a bevel gear H2 and also carries above it a gear I28, which latter meshes with a second gear I30 on a bearing I32 on the cross frame I I8. Gear I32 meshes with the larger gear I34 horizontally fixed on vertical shaft I36 having a bearing in cross frame I I8. Turret shaft I36 is surrounded by a bearing i38, above which is a long sleeve I39, along which is fixed a Geneva gear I40 having slots cooperating with 9. Geneva member I42 on shaft H4. This latter Geneva member I42 has a circular periphery on which is mounted roller I44 for cooperation with the radial slots of gear I43 aforesaid for intermittently rctating sleeve I39 and for holding it stationary between partial turns. The upright shaft II4 above the Geneva member carries a sprocket gear I46 (see Figure 5) driving a chain I48 running horizontally across the frame of the machine to a larger sprocket I53 fixed to shaft I52. This shaft through the machine.

is mounted upon a substantially triangular frame I53 carried by and integral with the cross bar I26. The frame I53 carries a bearing for the shaft I52, and also has a heavy extension bearing I54 for the whole fruit turret shaft I55. Both of these shafts are vertical and parallel to each other. The whole fruit turret shaft I55 extends vertically upward toward the top of the frame. The shaft I52 has pinned thereto just above the bearing I53 a part of the Geneva, this part carrying the roller I56.

In addition, the shaft I52 has pinned below the support I54 a gear wheel I59 which meshes with another gear I56, which is. pinned to the bottom of the shaft I55. Just above the gear I56, cam I60 is pinned to shaft I55, and above the bearing I54 the shaft I55 carries a relatively long sleeve I6I to which is keyed the cooperative part I62 of the Geneva, whereby, through the intermediary of the Geneva I62, the sleeve I6I is intermittently rotated. Sleeve I6I carries the whole fruit feed turret.

Whole fruit feed station Initial orienting means is provided for the fruit whereby an operator may feed whole peaches one at a time to the whole fruit holding mechanism carried by the whole fruit turret, and such mechanism comprises orienting means and automatically shiftable means preferably including a concave receiver, into which a whole peach is placed by the operator, so that the stem indent and suture plane of the half fruit is precisely and definitely located with respect to this receiver, whereby upon the shiftable operation of this feeding mechanism or receiver, the whole peach is automatically conveyed to whole peach gripping means preferably in the form of spaced fingers or jaws which are adapted automatically to grip the whole fruit adjacent and on substantially opposite sides of the suture plane of the whole fruit, and thereafter firmly to hold the whole fruit in the precise position in which it was placed in the first mentioned whole fruit receiving means. Thereafter this whole fruit gripping means is turned by the turret mechanism carrying it to a plurality of stations provided with mechanism for operating upon the peach while thus precisely held.

Direct positioning and orientation of the whole peach in the machine and the maintenance of control of a certain alignment with respect to the suture plane and stem cavity is very important for efficient results obtained from uccessive processing operations on the peach while it is fed It is undesirable to provide feeding mechanism which gives the operator any particular leeway in properly placing the peach in the feeding jaws of the whole fruit turret, and therefore the hereinbefore described means is provided for eliminating all chance and guesswork by the provision of means whereby the operator merely places the stem cavity'of the whole peach over a locating means, and in the construction of the whole fruit receiver with concaved walls, whereby the rounded body of the peach automatically aligns its suture, so that subsequent operations may be exactly determined.

To this end therefore mechanism for feeding a whole peach to the fruit holding mechanism of the whole fruit turret is illustrated as an arm I63 pivoted as at I64, and provided with a roller I65 which works in the cam slide of the cam I60. The outer end of the arm I 63 has pivoted thereto an elongated arm I66, the upper end of which is pivoted a at I 61,to a bracket I68 carried bythe extension frame. This bracket, as shown in Figures 1, 8, and ,9, is made adjustable, and is provided with a right angle arm I68 carrying on its outer end a guideway I16. The guideway I10 is disclosed more in detail in Figures '1, 8, and 11, and is arranged so that a block I1I is slidable therein, being normally and resiliently pushed to upward position by mean of a spring I12. The outer end of the slide carries the whole fruit receiver or cradle I13 shown in detail in Figure 19. This receiver includes a substantially centrally located stem cavity positioning or orienting means I14, which is elongated as shown, and is designed to fit within the stem cavity of the whole peach and align with the longitudinal or suture plane axis thereof.

In addition, on opposite sides thereof, the cradle is provided with concaved or rounded walls I15 which are substantially cup-shaped. These walls at the rear are cut away as shown at I16, so as not to interfere with the opening and closing movements of the lower whole fruit holding fingers or jaws, as shown in Figure 8. It will be noted that the angle arm I68 is arranged so that, when in position to place the half fruit between the holding jaws hereinafter referred to, the stem axis of the whole peach is angularly disposed with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the whole fruit receiving means. Specifically the stem axis is downwardly inclined about 30 degrees to such line. This is particularly important because, as the whole fruit is carried by the gripping means of the whole fruit turret, it must be maintained in this exact position.

The spring I12, by reason of its resiliency, permits some latitude in the positioning of the whole fruit with respect to the stationary support of the whole fruit receiving jaws, as hereinafter set forth, so as to accommodate fruits or peaches of different sizes.

I Referring now to the turret proper and to the fruit holding jaws, it will be observed that the intermittently rotatable sleeve I6I carries an additional sleeve I11 and affixed thereto are a plurality of post supports I18, such supports being radially spaced around the central vertical axis of the turret. Each one of these supports I18, in turn, is provided with an upright extension upon which the whole fruit holding jaws are mounted. By reference to Figures 6 to 16, inclusive, the construction and operation of these jaws will be apparent. The lower jaw I8I is pivoted as at I80 to the upright I18. This lower jaw is formed with two integral spaced apart jaws or fruit gripping fingers I8I, which have concaved portions I82 and I83 adapted to engage the curvilinear contour of the whole peach on opposite sides of a plane passing substantially vertically through the plane of the suture, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.

In addition, this lower jaw I8! is provided at its rear end with an angularly disposed tooth projection I85, and is provided with a connection I35 with a coil spring I86 as hereinafter set forth. The upper jaw is made in two pieces, whereas the lower jaw is preferably made in a single piece. The details of construction of the upper jaw are shown in Figures 13 and 14. upper jaw comprises a head portion I81 certtrally apertured as at I 88. The head is provided with a lateral lu I 89 hereinafter referred to,

This 7 "7 fruit holding mechanism. :In addition, the head portion 18'! is provided with a laterally extending fruit clamping ja-w I92 having a curvilinear fruit contacting face 193 for engaging "the contour of the peach on one side of the plane of the uture. In addition, this jaw is provided with an upstanding lug .594, to which the upper ends of the spring 586 connect. The cooperative part of the upper jaw is formed with a round bearing I95, which easily fits within the opening I83 of the head i 81 to permit relative-angular movement between the parts. This =hea'd is provided with a furoation in the form of a rearwardly extending lug I95, which is adapted to receive the lug I89 therebetween that is formed on the cooperative portion of the first portion of the upper gripping jaws. In addition, this part of the jaw is provided with a forwardly extending gripping portion I-el, which is arcuately curved as at we to grip thecontour of the peach on the opposite sides of the suture planes, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The furcation i295 and the cooperating lug I89 provide a lost motion connection, which permits two portions of this upper jaw to have vertical adjustment, .as shown in Figures 15 and 16, whereby in the event a peach is held, which is of smaller diameter on one side of the suture plane than the other, the upper gripping jaw will adjust itself accordingly, whereby to hold the peach precisely as it is inserted between these jaws when they move together under the tension of the closing springs I85. There are a pair of springs for each 'jaw-one on each side of the vertical plane through the central portion of these jaws-the upper ends being attached to the pins It' l and I554, respectively, :and the lower ends of the springs being attached to the pins H35 and 1'35 of the lower jaws. It will be noted that the holding portions ISI, I8I of the lower jaws and the portions 192, is"! of the upper jaws are spaced apart to permit the entry of the saw 3-15 there- 'between in the subsequent cutting operation of the peach through its suture plane, so that the saw may completely sever the entire peach and its pit while held in these jaws. It will be further noted that this space between these fingers -I'8I, I8I' and I92 and I9? lies in the suture plane of the peach, which is approximately the plane of the maximum diameter of the peach, or parallel thereto.

Means for operating the jaw mechanism of the whole fruit holding means comprises a earn 200 which is splined to the upper :end of the shaft I55. This cam is provided with an'internal caniway adapted to receive a roller 2&2 mounted upon a slide 294 disposed immediately beneath the cam and lying transversely across the shaft 1'55. The slide is suitably slotted as at 23.8 (see Figures 6 and 12) to permit movement of the slide back and forth transversely across the axis of the shaft I55. The slot is adapted to move in guideways 2G8 fixed to the "extension support of the machine. The bottom portion of the slide is provided with two depending lugs forming extensions thereon. These lugs are 180 degrees apart. The cam race 252 of cam 2313 extends 360 degrees of a total annular travel of the cam. When the slide 294 is moved toward the feed-in station, 1. e., away from the main or half fruit turret, the depending lug nearest the main turret moves toward the feed-in station, and thereby pushes the roller H98 on the top of the upper finger of the corresponding whole fruit jaws inwardly toward the shaft I 55, thereby positively to open these fruit jaws. -'Simultaneously, the opposite lug 240, which is spaced degrees therefrom, moves in the same direction to permit the spring 486 to close the oppositely located fruit clamping jaws about or into engage ment with a peach positioned by the fruit receiving saddle I15, and thereby hold the whole fruit firmly between the fingers of the jaws. Any variations insize of successive peaches are automatically compensated for by the yielding action of the springs I86 between the upper and flower clamping jaws, and any deviations in size on opposite sides of the plane of the suture of the peach are compensated for by the relative movement between the members of the upper fruit jaw.

The upright I18 on turret I'I'I has rigidly bolted thereto as at 212 a laterally projecting backing member 2M, which is shaped as shown in Figure 8 thereby to position and firmly to hold the rear portion of the peach positioned between the clamping jaws by the whole fruit receiver I15.

By reason of the foregoing construction, the whole fruit turret is intermittently rotated to position each pair of fruit holding jaws at the receiving station, during which time the jaws are automatically held in open position whilea whole peach is fed onto the peach-receiving cradle I15 in a manner hereinafter set forth, and thereafter the receiver F55 is moved upwardly to position the peach, as shown in Figure -8, during which time the upper and lower .jaws of the clamping members are cam released so as to resiliently approach the peach to grasp and hold it firmly and precisely in the before described predetermined position.

At the same time that the turret is moved, the shaft 255 is synchronously driven to operate automatically the cam and slide hereinbefore .mentioned to cause these proper opening and closing movements of these jaws in timed relation.

Further referring to the foregoing mechanism, once the whole peach is placed manually with the long or suture plane axis of its stem cavity registering with and oriented by the positioning nib or orienting or gauge means I'M of the fruit cradle, as illustrated in Figure 9, the whole peach will thereafter be raised upwardly to the position shown in Figure-8, with the stemaxis downwardly inclined from the horizontal, as therein shown, and with the suture plane in predetermined position. At this time the whole fruit jaws firmly grasp the fruit as .hereinbefore set forth, whereupon the fruit-receiving cradle moves downwardly, the turret then automatically shifts to .the stem cavity trimming station; and at thesame timeanempty setof whole fruit holding jaws .is brought into registration ready for the next upward movement of the whole fruit receivingcradle.

I ndenture and suture plane orienting means, and peach cutting means controlled thereby In addition to the peach orienting mechanism hereinbefore described, due to variations in the sizes and shapes of peaches, and other factors of variation, .in accordance with the present invention add-itionalpeach stem indent and suture plane -.orienti ng mechanism, specifically in the form of sensing, gauging, and control means, is provided, :as will now be described, such last named orienting mechanism forming a part of control means for controlling the operation of 9 peach processing mechanism, specifically a cutting means, upon the peach in predetermined reference to the peach stem indent and suture plane.

This latter orienting mechanism, as specifically herein disclosed, comprises a rotatable Wheel adapted to have movement relatively to a whole peach and to roll relatively along the peripheral convex surface of the whole peach and then move yieldably into the long axis of the stem indenture when the long axis or suture plane axis of the stem indenture registers with the plane of rotation of the wheel.

The entering movement of the wheel forms a part of control means for controlling the operative functioning of peach cutting means, and more specifically inhibits the effective operation thereof when proper entry is not made, the orienting member thus additionally serving as a rejecting or inhibiting mechanism for precluding the effective operation of the cutting means upon the peach When'the peach, in reference to its stem indent and suture plane, is not properly positioned. The orienting wheel is of sufiiciently large diameter with regard to the dimensions of the longitudinal or suture plane axis of the stem indent whereby when relative motion is produced between the rotatable Wheel and the whole peach, and the wheel comes in contact with the convex curvature of the whole peach and then subsequently comes into registration with the stem indent of the Whole peach, the wheel due to its said radius of curvature will enter radially into the stem indent to a maximum depth when the wheel registers with the longitudinal or suture plane axis of the stem indent, but not otherwise. When the wheel orienting member fails to enter the stem indent, or enters the stem indent in a position angularly disposed in respect to the suture plane, the operative functioning of the processing mechanism of the machine, specifically a cutting means as herein disclosed, is varied and appropriately controlled.

Referring specifically to the mechanism herein disclosed, the rotary wheel orienting means is associated directly with stem cavity peeling means disposed at a stem cavity peeling station. The present mechanism is designed efficiently to remove the peeling from the stem cavity of the whole peach, in reference to its suture plane and elongated shape. Experience has shown that in the majority of peaches the stem cavities are of elongated shape and notround, it therefore being important that the peeling operation be effected in predetermined reference to the suture plane of the stem cavity.

In the present instance the stem cavity 'peeler is disposed to operate upon the whole peach while the latter is held in the whole fruit turret, and is the first station of themechanism operable upon the whole peach while in the holding jaws of this first turret. The mechanism for removing the stem cavity and peeling is shown in the drawings. 7

Referring particularly to Figure 1, mounted on the top of the frame I2 is a motor 2! 6, which drives a belt 2| 8 to pulley 220 on the shaft 222. This shaft, in addition carries a worm gear 224 driving another gear 226 (see Figure 18) on a vertical shaft 230. This shaft 230 is connected by means of a universal joint 232 to a telescopic shaft arrangement 234, which has pinned to the lower portion of the telescopic shaft'arrangement a bevel gear 236. This telescopic shaft arrange' ment includes a driving key 238 of usual construction, and a spring240 whereby to cause the 10 bevel gear to be driven from the shaft 230 while permitting relative reciprocation of the movable portions of the telescopic shaft, and While at the same time permitting a swinging movement of the cutter mechanism driven by the bevel gear 236, as hereinafter set forth.

In addition to the telescopic shaft 234, ther is provided a swinging frame arrangement adjacent thereto comp-rising a bracket 242 rigidly mounted upon a support portion 244 of the main frame.

This bracket 242 includes an outstanding pin-' like bearing 246, upon which a hub portion 248 of a mounting is adapted to oscillate. This hub portion 248 has a depending socket 250 having a depending shaft 252 affixed thereto as at 254. The bottom portion of this shaft 252 has slidably, adjustably afiixed thereto a carriage 256 (see Figure 19'). The upper portion of this carriage is provided with a, smaller sleeve 258 carrying a pin' 260, on which a pair of rollers 262 are mounted. The lower portion of the carriage carries a ringlike member 264 having a depending bracket 266, which, as shown in Figure 18, comprises arms 2-68 and 216 and a sleeve-like support 212 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft 234. The central arm 210 has a lower portion 216 forming at its bottom end a bearing 273 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft arrangement 234. Mounted in the arms 268 and 21!] of this lower carriage is the shaft 280, to which is afiixed a bevel gear 282 for driving the same from the bevel gear 236. Also. mounted upon this shaft 289 between the arms 268 and 210 is the peeling cutter arrangement comprising stem cavity and suture plane orientation member 283, preferably formed as a wheel or disk, and having oppositely disposed hubs 284 which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 280. This wheel 283 is rotatably mounted so that it can roll on its shaft down into and out of the stem cavity, carrying with it a pair of rotating cutter blades 288 and 290. By thus mounting the disk 283,

sawing or cutting of the fruit is prevented unless the stem indenture is in a predetermined posi tion, and the character of the cutting operation is controlled in accordance with the position of the suture plane. Adjacent each hub 284 is a collar 285 and 286, which are keyed to the shaft 280 and form a support for the above mentioned cutter blades 288 and 290, which are of the general configurations shown in the drawings, and are attached to the collars 285 and 286 by means of the screws 292. It will be noted that the cutter members are staggered degrees, so as to counterbalance the high speed rotation of the cutter shaft. Each cutter comprises generally concaved portions 294 on opposite sides of the wheel 283 as shown in Figure 22, and because of this opposite arrangement of these concaved portions of the cutters in combination with the wheel 283, which is adapted to roll in the suture plane axis of the central portion of the peach cavity, the cutters as they rotate will completely and precisely cut and sever the peel from the stem cavity.

Means is provided for oscillating the cutter about its swingable bearing pin 246, and, in association therewith, there is provided a, cam mechanism to give the cutter a definite swinging movement. By reference to Figure 17 it will be seen that means is provided to place the stem cavity peeling cutters in position so as to partake of a swinging movement resiliently or yieldingly inwardly toward and into the stem cavity of the peach, and also a positive displacement movement' away from the stem cavity of the peach and/or substantially up-and-down or vertical, reciprocatory movement longitudinally of the longer or suture plane axis of the stem. cavity.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, mounted:

upon the whole fruit turret shaft I55 at the top thereof is a, cam 366 which is pinned to shaft as at 382. This cam is provided with a camway 304 shown also in Figure 6. Slidably mounted transversely of the shaft N55 is a slide 356, which is slotted as at 393' to permit such movement of this slide. Such slide carries on its upper surface a roller 31% which operates in the cam slide 304?, whereby upon rotation of the shaft 155, the slide is reciprocated in the manner shown in Figure 2. This slide at one end carries an operatingarm 312 provided with a roller 314. This roller is adapted to contact a vertical plate-like member 3-16, which is mounted upon the pivoted member 250, which swings with the assembly. A depending arm M8- having a cam portion 319 formed on its lower end, i pivotally mounted at 320- on the rigid portion of the support 2'42, and it is provided with an inwardly extending shorter arm- 322 adapted: to be disposed between upper and lower screws 32 and 326, and by means of their adjustment are adapted to determine the position of the cam portion of the arm 3l8, whereby to determine the adjustment of the movement. of the cutter as it approaches the peach stem cavity. Cam member 318 is adapted to-contact one of the rollers 262 carried by the sleeve 255- on the swingableshaft 252 which in turncarries the: cutters, whereby to prevent the cutters contacting the jaws if, if no fruit be therebetween. The foregoing roller Si l, in cooperation with the plate 316, positively forces the orientation wheel 283- and the cutters out of contact with the stem cavity so as not to interfere with themovement of the whole fruit turret and the whole fruit holding means. On the other hand, a coil spring 328' has one endattached as at 330 to a ring 332 pinned to the depending sleeve 256, and has-its opposite end fixed to a, pin 33 on an actuable arm 336 in turn fixed to an oscillatable shaft 338 hereinafter referred to, whereby thespring 328 constantly tends to draw the swingable stem cavity cutter and orientation wheel yieldingly toward the peach when the slide 3| 2 and-its roller 3i 4' swings to the left, as viewed in- Figure 17.

In addition to this movement, means hereinbefore referred to is provided for raising and lowering the orienting wheel and cutting mechanism insynchronized relation to the inward swinging movement of the parts toward the stem cavity. Thisv is accomplished b the mechanism in Figtires-1'7; 19, 20 and 21. By means of this arrangement, when the rod 252 is oscillated laterally by the roller Bid on the slide 312, and by means of the spring 328, the rod will shift the entire frame or support 256 which carries the wheel and cutter head; while at the same time thesleeve 25S- carrying the parts may be shifted vertically withrespect to the rod 252, due to the slot and block arrangement therebetween. The means for vertically raising and lowering the sleeve 256 carrying the cutter head and wheel 283 comprises the bar 336- hereinbefore described, which, when actuated, is adapted to raise and lower the sleeve 256 by means of contact with one ofthe rollers 26! thereon. The shaft 338 that actuates the bar 333, as shown in Figure 2, is provided at its opposite end with a roller 3 38, which isshifted by acam 452- mounted on the shaft I36, as shown. in Figure 21 of the drawings. Likewise, the sleeve 234 of the telescopic shaft arrangement: will be raised and lowered vertically with respect. to the sleeve 23 i, and it also. will. be retained in vertical alignment by the abutment: 23,8 ridingv in the slot formed on the sleeve 2.34.

If desired, the means, for giving the carriage 2-6.6: a vertical, reciprocatory movement, may be omitted, and merely the swinging movement may be imparted to. the carriage. It is preferred, however, to give the combination. of movements. It will be appreciated that, inasmuch as the elongated stem cavities of successive peaches vary in length and depth, the, orientation. wheel is provided: to roll down through the cavity, allowing the; opposed cutters to, do the peeling, regardless of? the length. or depth, and inv conformity with the shape of. the stem cavity: The vertical movement and. the swinging 0r oscillatory movement are independent of one another but in. timed relation.

Inaccordance with the foregoing it will be seen that they spring 328' resiliently or yieldingly pulls the orientation wheel 283 and the peach relatively towardv each other, while: at the same time the wheel is given a vertical upward movement through the action of the power actuated arm 33 6; whereby the orienting wheel is caused to roll relatively along the convex surface of the peach and into and" through the suture plane axis of the sternindent if' and when the peach is in proper predetermined position.

The stem indenture of the peach in the directionof" the suture plane axis merges smoothly and relatively flatly ateach end with the convex surface of the peach, whereas in a direction transverse thereto theindenture is bordered by high shoulders merging relativel abruptly with, the convex surface of the peach and dropping abruptly into the stem indenture. The curvature of the orienting wheel 283 is so predetermined that the wheel will roll into the stem indenture substantially to the bottom thereof when in registration with the suture plane axis of: the indenture. However, if the whole peach is incorrectly positioned in the jaws l8! and I9! so that no stem indenture comes into registration with the orientingv wheel no cutting action will occur; or alternatively if the peach is held so that other than the suture plane axis of the stem indenture comes into registration with the plane andpath of'movement of. the orienting wheel the wheelwill not enter the stem indenture toan appreciable extent and likewise no effective cutting action will occur.

Applicants have thus provided in the wheel 283, anorienting device which senses the position of the peach both with reference to its stem indentand its suture plane, and which orients and positions the peach. and processing cutters 294- in respect to each other and in respect to the peachstem indent andsutureplane so-that a predetermined processing operation in respect thereto occurs. While theorienting wheel 283 has been specifically disclosed herein in connection withthe control of the processingcutters 294 for peeling; the; stem indent, it is to be understood that a rotatable orienting wheel such as the wheel 2-83; which rolls relatively to the peach along itsperipheral surface, and'then into the peach stem indent and further becoming aligned with thesuture. plane; axis thereofymay, be variously used as an orientation member of; sensing and/or. control to effect the sensing and/or control of a peach and its processing mechanism relative toeach other so as to effect the processing of the peach in a desired predetermined manner in respect to its stem indent and suture plane. A rotatable orienting wheel which rolls relatively circumferentially of the peach while the wheel and peach are yieldably radially urged toward each other, and. which is shaped so as to enter the stem indent in one manner when in alignment with the suture plane, and'in a distinguisha-bly different manner when not in alignment with the suture plane, thus serves advantageously and eifectively particularly as an orienting member for peaches and like fruit, wherein orientation of the suture plane as well as in respect to the stem indent is a factor of importance, as distinguished from the orientation of cherries and fruit of like character.

As the peach leaves the stem cavity peeling station, it is transferred by the whole peach conveyor to the cutting saw 316 which operates to sever the peach into substantially equal size half portions. It will be seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 12, that the orienting wheel, the saw and the whole peach conveyor are so constructed as to maintain the suture plane of the fruit in the same position relative to the plane of the orienting wheel 283 and the plane of the cutting saw 315, although the wheel and saw are in specifically different planes relative to each other. By this means it will be seen that those peaches which are properly positioned as engaged by the orienting wheel will be maintained in proper position by the conveyor between the orienting wheel and the cutting saw so that the latter effects the bisecting of such peaches substantially along the suture plane thereof, and longitudinally of the peeled stem indent.

After the severing of the peaches the peach halves are transferred from the whole fruit conveyor to the half fruit conveyor more particularly shown in Fig. 2, and subjected to further processing operations specifically forming no part of the present invention.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing illustrative description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of means for supporting a whole fruit with the stem cavity exposed and with the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity extending in a predetermined direction, a support adapted to move toward and from said whole fruit, gauge means mounted on said support and having portions adapted to contact the stem cavity of the whole fruit when said support approaches said whole fruit, rotatable cutting means carried by said support and positioned by said gauge for cutting the peel of the stem cavity, and means for shift ing said gauge transversely of its approaching and receding movements with respect to the stem cavity of the whole peach in a direction parallel to the longtudinal axis of the stem cavity.

2. In a device for treating whole peaches, the combination of means for holding stationary the whole peach with its stem cavity exposed, rotatable cutting means, means to rotate the cutting means, means for moving the cutting means to position the rotating cutting means in the stem cavity and means to cause the axis of the rotatable cutting means to move parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity as it rotates whereby to cut the peeling in the stem cavity from the peach.

3. In combination with cutting means adapted to cut a peach, means for supporting a whole peach so that its stem cavity may be exposed and so that the longitudinal axis of such stem cavity extends in a predetermined direction, a stem indent sensing member, means for causing said sensing member to move along the convexed periphery of the whole peach and into the stem cavity of the peach in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity, and means operatively connecting the sensing member and the cutting means and controlled by the cavity entering movement of said sensing member for controlling operation of the cutting means.

4. In a peach processing apparatus, the combination of peach cutting means, means for feeding a series of peaches toward the cutting means and for supporting each peach adjacent the cutting means, and shiftable mechanism operatively connected to the cutting means for controlling said cutting means and adapted to travel along the convex periphery of each held peach so fed for precluding the cutting of the peach except when the long axis of the stem indenture of the peach registers with the cutting means.

5. In a fruit processing machine, the combination of cutting means for cutting a series of peaches, stem cavity sensing means, means for relatively moving said peach and said sensing means into contact and to cause said sensing means to enter the cavity in a direction parallel to the long axis of the cavity, means responsive to said means entering the cavity of each of the successive peaches for controlling the action of the cutting means upon each of the successive peaches.

6. In a device for treating whole fruit, the combination of means for holding a whole fruit, a rotatable gauge mounted to roll into the stem cavity of the whole fruit while held by said holding means, and rotatable cutting means having a diameter no greater than the diameter of the gauge and mounted for movement with and operatively connected to said gauge to cut the peel of the whole fruit in the stem cavity during the rolling of the gauge into the stem cavity.

7. In a fruit handling machine, means for supporting a peach, a rotatable wheel of a thickness less than the dimension of the stem cavity of a Whole peach measured in a direction transverse to the long axis of the cavity, said Wheel being of a radius to penetrate into the stem cavity to maximum extent when aligned with the long axis of the stem cavity of the peach, means for shifting the peach supporting means and wheel relatively to cause the wheel to engage the surface of the whole peach carried by said supporting means and to penetrate into the stem cavity when aligned with the long axis of the stem cavity, a peach cutting mechanism operatively connected to said wheel and actuated in response to the entry of the wheel to maximum extent into the cavity of the peach to cut the peach engaged by the wheel.

8. In a fruit handling machine, means for supporting a. whole peach, a. rotatable wheel, means for positioning the: wheeliin: contact with the surfaceof a: whole peach carried? by said supporting means, means for: mounting: said wheel for rota tion: inv a predetermined plane, said' wheel being shaped to enter to maximum extent-into the stem cavity of the whole peach carried by said suppcrtingimeans'when the suture plane of the whole peach lies in the plane of rotation of the wheel, peach cutting. means, and means operatively connecting the cutting means and the wheel, and-responsive to the entry of the wheel to maximum extent intothe stem. cavity for controlling the action. of the cutting means upon the peach.

9. In a.fruit'handling'machine, means for supporting a whole peach. with the stem cavity exposed; a rotatable wheel; having a peripheral curvature corresponding generally to. the curvature of the baseof the stem cavity'of peaches in the direction of the long of the stem cavity, said wheel being. of a thickness to enter to maximum extent into: the stem cavity when aligned with the long axis thereof, means for shiftingthe wheel relatively to av whole peach carried by said supporting means in a direction generally radially of a. supported'peach to cause the wheelto enter to maximum extent into the stem cavity of the whole peach when the long axis of the stem cavity is oriented in a predetermined direction, and cutting mechanism operatively connected to said wheel shifting means and responsive to the stem cavity entering movement of the wheel whereby to cut the whole peach when the long axis of the stem cavity is oriented insaid predetermined direction.

10. In a fruit handling machine, means for supporting a whole peach, a generally wheelshaped member having a peripheral edge which in cross section conforms generally to the cross sectional shape of the base of the stem indent of: the whole peach in a plane generally perpendicular to the suture plane of the peach, means for rotating said wheel-shaped member, and means for positioning the rotating wheel-shaped member in contact with the surface of the whole peach carried by said supporting means and urging said wheel-shaped member to enter into the stem indent of the whole peach when the indent of the peach. registers with the wheel-shaped member and the suture plane of the peach is aligned with the plane of the wheel-shaped member, and, cutting means operatively connected to said wheel-shaped member and responsive to the indent entering movement of said member to effectacuttingof the peach.

11. A peach processing machine comprising means. for. holding. a whole peach, an orientation sensing member shaped to enter to maximum extent the. stem indent of a whole peach when alignedwith the suture plane of the peach, means for. positioning saidsensing member in engagement with the. whole peach carried by said holding means and urging said. member into the stem indent. of the peach: to maximum extent when the suture plane of the peach is aligned with said membena peach cutting member, and means operatively connected. to said orientation member and said cutting member and responsive to theentry and non-entry of said sensing member tomaximum extent into the stem indent of the peach for rendering saidcutting member effective to cut the peach: when the suture plane of the peach is aligned with the sensing member and inellective to cut the peach when the suture plane of the peach is not in alignment with the sensing, member.

12. In a machine for handling fruit having an elongated indent, a carrier, a plurality of fruit holders mounted on said carrier to securely hold the fruit therein, means for progressing said carrier over apath, means to position the stem indent of the fruit in each of said holders in a predetermined position, an indent sensing member positioned to move in' contact with said fruit at said predetermined: position, said indent sensing member having an elongated peripheral surface capable of penetrating said indent when the elongations of said indent and of said' surface substantially coincide, means for moving said sensing member into contact with the fruit at said predetermined position and into the elongated indent of the fruit when the elongation of said indent and of said surface substantially coincide, cutting means for cutting a series of peaches, means responsiveto said sensing member entering the indent of each of the successive fruits for controllin the action of the cutting means on each of the successive fruits.

RAYMOND L. EWALD.

A. SKOG.

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